Introduction
The importance of sexuality in a person’s life cannot be overstated. Sexual conduct, on the other hand, is not perceived similarly by people of all ages. The subject is still taboo among senior citizens. Media has been utilized to project attitudes and views that prevent older people from engaging in sexual activity over time. The elderly are stereotyped as beings who cannot or should not engage in sexual activity. As a result, any sexual activity is rejected, and society considers sexual expression to be sinful or deviant.
Furthermore, older people are stereotyped as non-sexual members of society who have seen a natural reduction in sexual function. Other demographic misconceptions include a lack of sexual desire and a loss of sexual attractiveness (Laskey et al., 2019). The cartoon chosen for the project depicts the physiological, psychological, and social components of sexual development in older adults, demonstrating that they are stigmatized due to their bodily changes and the absence of personal and support systems.
The Message
An elderly couple on the beach is depicted in Figure 1, demonstrating that elderly adults are not sexually desirable. The illustration portrays an elderly person who is unable to dress decently. The older man is dressed in socks and loose-fitting underpants, obscuring his ability to judge what a person should wear to the beach. The man’s appeal has also waned as a result of his protruding stomach.
The woman is wearing her one-piece swimsuit backward and cannot hear properly because her husband appears to be repeating a point. Her breasts have already deflated as a result of her advanced age and hence have lost their sex appeal (Meyerhoff & Ehrlich, 2019). She is also overweight and unable to properly groom her genitalia. As a result, other beachgoers are terrified and forced to flee or vomit. The image subtly promotes the misconception that only young adults can be sexually attractive.
Psychological Development
Old age is a phase of life marked by changes, most of which are characterized by losses. As a result, many older persons may lose their capacity to cope with the demands of aging. One’s sexuality could also deteriorate with age due to the ongoing changes that might affect their physique. Failure to adapt can result in deteriorated mental health, a lower chance of achieving a good quality of life, a lack of emotional regulation, and a lack of independence. Despite the woman from the picture not realizing that she got on her swimsuit backward, a bigger problem is that her psychological state might be affected by such unpleasant interactions with people on the beach.
Looking at the cartoon, one could wonder about the old couple’s mental health and level of independence. They may not be able to converse properly in this scenario due to hearing loss or other physiological changes. Furthermore, the woman left her residence wearing her swimsuit backward, exposing her upper body to the community without her knowledge. Therefore, it should be crucial to look at the elderly people in the picture while recognizing that they could be affected by psychological issues related to self-acceptance and an inadequate level of self-esteem. In this instance, the woman or her spouse may not be able to properly care for themselves while exposing their imperfections to the world. The stigma that is displayed in Figure 1 is most likely to deteriorate elderly people’s well-being.
Physiological Development
With the passage of time, physiological changes take place in the elderly. Notably, the body seems to change the most while becoming less physically appealing. It shows how, with age, people turn to younger partners to compensate for the physique they once had when they were thirty or forty years younger. The challenges associated with physiological development affect one’s sexual life because of the negative associations between aging and sexual appeal. The fact that the woman wears her swimsuit backward and scares other beach visitors shows how the elderly are often misrepresented and misunderstood by the younger generation.
Hence, the differences between the bodies of younger and older individuals, one can suggest that the concept of physiological sexuality is perceived differently during various life stages. Therefore, the reaction displayed by younger beach visitors could have been different if they were older and recognized the issues linked to psychosexual development. The woman is wearing her bikini backward in this situation, maybe owing to mental degeneration or vision loss, but it does not necessarily mean that she should be seen as unable to generate sex appeal.
Psychosocial Development
Psychosocial difficulties in older people can have an impact on their social engagement. The cartoon portrays both the impacts and causes of a lack of confidence. A younger woman can be seen in the background, either laughing or gagging at the couple. In comparison to the older woman, she appears to be more muscular and youthful, with firmer breasts. Her actions may add to the couple’s lack of confidence, leading to isolation and the loss of support systems such as relatives and friends. It is possible that she is disgusted by both the man and the woman (Laskey et al., 2019).
Older males who strive to express their sexuality may encounter stereotypical labels like “dirty old guy.” She could also be giggling at the woman because she has lost her beauty or does not understand her swimsuit is on backward. Two males stand in front of the pair, appearing to be horrified by the events.
Furthermore, owing to his complexion and grey hair, one of the males appears to be the same age as the couple. The two gentlemen also demonstrate how elderly women are portrayed as not sexually attractive and undignified when they express their sexuality (Laskey et al., 2019). Psychosocial concerns arise as a result of such events, and older persons’ social involvement suffers as a result. In essence, older people’s sexuality is a contentious issue as people believe they cannot and should not commit sexual behaviors, which is frowned upon in society. They could also be described as immoral or depraved.
Conclusion
The cartoon illustration depicts the psychological, physiological, and social components of older adults’ sexual development. Because of their physiological symptoms and absence of personal support networks, the populace is stigmatized. Generally, because it impacted all of the distinct elements, this cartoon conveyed a wide range of meanings. The woman in the animation portrayed a biological aspect through her ability to casually discuss her anatomy. She also appears to be able to show physiological understanding about her body, as she recognizes that beneath all of her defects, including wrinkles, she is still a husk of who she used to be, despite the fact that she has altered slightly.
References
Laskey, P., Bates, E. A., & Taylor, J. C. (2019). A systematic literature review of intimate partner violence victimization: An inclusive review across gender and sexuality. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 47, 1-11.
Laugh, N. (2010). Masquerade Ball. nahlaugh.blogspot.com. Web.
Meyerhoff, M., & Ehrlich, S. (2019). Language, gender, and sexuality. Annual Review of Linguistics, 5, 455-475.